Stevia Nutra ready for propagation phase

PHNOM PENH – Agro-management company Stevia Nutra Corporation (OTC:BB STNT)  announced that it has completed the initial site preparation and development of its Stevia Propagation Centre (SPC) in Kampong Speu.

The perimeter has been secured with fencing, the land has been cleared and tilled, and hydropower has been brought to the site. The permanent on-site office, worker accommodation, and storage building are all in place. Stevia Nutra Corporation will also install a high-tech irrigation system for a reliable, steady flow of water. The on-site well has been drilled and now has the required water supply. This system is expected to dramatically increase yields over traditional growers.

The design for the requisite nursery and greenhouse is likewise complete; a metal frame structure for the nursery will be added.

In the meantime Dr Ahmed El-Sheik, the company’s chief agronomy officer, has been conducting stevia plant trials over the past three months using several localised strains to determine best “germination and plantlet growth vigor.”

“From my recent work on our SPC site and also by observing other local farming activity in the area, I see very good growth conditions for crops and vegetation of all kinds,” says Dr El-Sheik. “Early testing trials of stevia are actually surpassing my expectations and it is becoming clear that our SPC is very well located from a growth conditions perspective.” Additionally, local officials from Kampong Speu town have visited the SPC site and were pleased with the progress and were excited to see this new, agri-business development well underway in their community.  

“Now that the site work has been completed we are ready to begin the stevia growing phase,” said Dr  El-Sheik, whose team will start planting within the next week. “We expect to report excellent initial results in the coming weeks.”